Top cops retiring from Somerset Prosecutor's Office

New Jersey Police honored three fallen comrades who were added to the list of Officer killed in the line of duty. The ceremony took place at the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove. STAFF VIDEO BY PETER ACKERMAN

Robertson emphasized that the retirements of the two veterans, both of whom have more than 25 years of service, had been in the works before he was named acting prosecutor by Gov. Chris Christie in March.

Robertson also dismissed speculation that the retirements may have been related to recent controversies involving the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.

"The retirements are unrelated to the Sheridan investigation or any allegations," Robertson said. "Both Ughetta and Fitzgerald had submitted paperwork to retire before I took office on March 7."

Fitzgerald joined the prosecutor's office in 1989 and was promoted to sergeant in 2001. He became a lieutenant in 2004, captain in 2007 and deputy chief to Stuart Buckman in 2009. Early in his career, he worked in the narcotics and organized crime unit, often going undercover.

Ughetta joined the prosecutor's office 25 years ago.

Shortly after he replaced former Prosecutor Geoff Soriano, who was not re-appointed by Christie to another six-year term, Robertson, like any new boss, said he was reviewing operations in the prosecutor's office and would be making changes.

"There is always room for improvement," he said. "I have to see what is working and what's not."

The prosecutor's officer has been dogged by controversy since its investigation concluded that John Sheridan, former president and CEO of Cooper Health System and an adviser to several governors, killed his wife of 47 years, then took his own life in a bizarre pre-dawn incident at the couple's Montgomery home in September 2014.

However, the Sheridans' sons are contesting the finding and the case is being reviewed by the state medical examiner.

The controversy was stoked by a lawsuit filed in April by a detective who claimed that possible evidence from the Sheridan case had been destroyed.